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Checking the Basics: Dell™
PowerEdge™ 2300 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide
If your Dell
PowerEdge 2300 computer system is not working as expected, start your troubleshooting with
the procedures in this chapter. This chapter guides you through some initial checks and
procedures that can solve basic computer problems. It can also direct you to the
appropriate chapter in this guide for detailed troubleshooting information and procedures
to solve more complex problems.
 |
NOTE: When you see the
question, "Is the problem resolved?" in a troubleshooting procedure, perform the
operation that caused the problem. |
If the system
is behaving erratically, back up the files immediately. See the documentation that came
with the operating system for instructions on how to back up the files.
The following procedure leads you through the checks necessary
to solve some basic computer problems:
1. Was an
alert message issued by the Dell Hardware Instrumentation Package (HIP) server management
application?
Yes. Go to Alert Log Messages
From the Dell HIP Application.
No. Go to step
2.
2. Is the
computer wet or damaged?
Yes. Go to Checking Inside the Computer.
No. Go to step
3.
3. Perform
the steps in Checking Connections and
Switches.
Is the problem
resolved?
Yes. The power
to the computer system was faulty, or the connections to the computer system were loose.
You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step
4.
4. Follow
the procedures described in Look and Listen.
Did the computer
system complete the boot routine?
Yes. Go to step
5.
No. A serious
malfunction may have occurred. Go to Getting Help.
5. Did you
receive a system message or beep code?
Yes. Go to Messages and Codes.
No. Go to step
6.
6. Verify
the settings in the System Setup program as explained in The System Setup Program.
Is the problem
resolved?
Yes. The system
configuration information was incorrect. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step
7.
7. Run the
Dell Diagnostics as described in Running the Dell Diagnostics.
Improperly
set switches and controls and loose or improperly connected cables are the most likely
source of problems for the computer, monitor, or other peripherals (such as a printer,
keyboard, mouse, or other external equipment). A quick check of all the switches,
controls, and cable connections can easily solve these problems. Figure
1 shows the back panel connections on the computer. Figure 2
shows the switches and controls on the computer.
Figure 1. Back Panel Features
Figure 2. Front Panel Features
Complete the
following procedure to check all the connections and switches:
1. Turn off
the system, including any attached peripherals (such as the monitor, keyboard, printer,
external drives, scanners, and plotters). Disconnect all the AC
power cables from their power sources.
2. If the
computer is connected to a power strip, turn the power strip off and then on again.
Is the power
strip receiving power?
Yes. Go to step
5.
No. Go to step
3.
3. Plug the
power strip into another electrical outlet.
Is the power
strip receiving power?
Yes. The
original electrical outlet probably does not function. Use a different electrical outlet.
No. Go to step
4.
4. Plug a
lamp that you know works into the electrical outlet.
Does the lamp
receive power?
Yes. The power
strip is probably not functioning properly. Use another power strip.
No. Go to step
5.
5.
Reconnect the system to AC power.
Make sure that
all connections fit tightly together.
6. Turn on
the system.
Is the problem
resolved?
Yes. The
connections were loose. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step
7.
7. Is the
monitor operating properly?
Yes. Go to step
8.
No. Go to Troubleshooting the
Monitor.
8. Is the
keyboard operating properly?
Yes. Go to step
9.
No. Go to Troubleshooting
the Keyboard.
9. Is the
mouse or printer operating properly?
Yes. Continue
with Look and Listen.
No. Go to Troubleshooting I/O
Ports.
Looking at
and listening to the system is important in determining the source of a problem. Look and
listen for the indications described in Table 1.
Look/Listen for:
|
Action
|
An error message |
See Messages
and Codes. |
Alert messages from the Dell HIP software
|
The server management software has detected a problem inside the
computer. See Alert Log Messages
From the Dell HIP Application. |
The monitor's power indicator |
Most monitors have a power indicator (usually on the front
bezel). If the monitor's power indicator does not come on, see Troubleshooting the Monitor. |
The keyboard indicators |
Most keyboards have one or more indicators (usually in the
upper-right corner). Press the <Num Lock> key, the <Caps Lock> key, or the
<Scroll Lock> key to toggle their respective keyboard indicators on and off. If the
indicators do not light up, see Troubleshooting the Keyboard. |
The diskette-drive access indicator |
The diskette-drive access indicator should quickly flash on and
off when you access data on the diskette drive. If the diskette-drive access indicator
does not light up, see Troubleshooting the
Diskette Drive Subsystem. |
The hard-disk drive activity indicators |
The hard-disk drive activity indicators should quickly flash on
and off when you access data on the hard-disk drives. On a system running the Microsoft ®
Windows NT ® operating system, you can test the drive by opening Windows Explorer and
clicking the icon for drive C. If the hard-disk drive access indicator does not come on,
see Troubleshooting SCSI Hard-Disk
Drives. |
A series of beeps |
See Messages
and Codes. |
An unfamiliar constant scraping or grinding sound when you
access a drive |
Make sure the sound is not caused by the application you are
running. The sound could be caused by a hardware malfunction. See Getting Help for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance from Dell. |
The absence of a familiar sound |
When you turn on the system, you should hear the hard-disk
drives spin up, and the system tries to access the boot files from the hard-disk drive,
the diskette drive, or the CD-ROM drive. See Running the Dell Diagnostics. If the system does not boot, see
Getting Help. |
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table,
see the Abbreviations and Acronyms list. |
If you have
not resolved the problem after looking at and listening to the computer, continue with the
instructions in The System Setup Program.
You can
easily correct certain system problems by verifying the correct settings in the System
Setup program. When you boot the system, the system checks the system configuration
information and compares it with the current hardware configuration. If the system
hardware configuration doesn't match the information recorded by the System Setup program,
an error message may appear on the screen.
This problem
can happen if you changed the system's hardware configuration and forgot to run the System
Setup program. To correct this problem, enter the System Setup program, correct the
corresponding System Setup setting, and reboot the system. See Chapter 4, "Using the
System Setup Program," in the Dell PowerEdge 2300 Systems User's Guide for
detailed instructions on using the System Setup program.
If you are
experiencing problems with the system, you may have a conflict between the information
stored by the System Setup program and the Resource Configuration Utility. Although the
Resource Configuration Utility can read changes from the System Setup program, changes are
not recorded into configuration memory until you run the Resource Configuration Utility
and save the new information. See Chapter 5, "Using the Resource Configuration
Utility," in the Dell PowerEdge 2300 Systems User's Guide for detailed
instructions on using the Resource Configuration Utility and saving new information.
If after
using the Resource Configuration Utility you have not resolved the problem, see Running the Dell Diagnostics.
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